Tiverton police, fire get new contracts. Here's what they'll receive

TIVERTON – After threats of arbitration from the local firefighters union , the Town Council and a firefighter negotiations team agreed to a one-year contract until July 1, 2025, and are in negotiations for three years thereafter, according to town officials at the Town Council meeting last week.

Town Administrator Chris Cotta said the entry-level salary for incoming firefighters is $52,000 while current staff members will get a 10% increase this coming fiscal year, which ends next June 30.

Cotta said that negotiations are ongoing for the remainder of the term, which would end in July 2018. He told council members last week that there is language in the contract that needs to be rectified.

The entry-level salary for new employees is up from $39,000.

“This is another good step on behalf of the community, the department and very good staff that work hard on behalf of the community,” Cotta said.

Prior to last Monday’s meeting, the town’s fire union took to Facebook and warned incoming firefighters that the $52,000 salary for them had not been finalized. The post also said that if the two sides do not come to terms, new firefighters would owe money to the town, as terms for veteran firefighters were still in negotiations.

The town last week appeared to avoid that issue and Cotta stressed last week that two sides are working together toward a multi-year agreement.

Council members and other employees mentioned that retention and recruitment for the police and fire departments have been difficult because the salary is not comparable to similarly-sized  communities.

The council also came to a three-year agreement with town police officers, which they say will make the police salaries competitive with area towns.

That increase includes a 5% increase to the police chief’s pay retroactive from Dec. 22 of last year to July 22. Police Chief Patrick Jones will also get a 5% pay increase each subsequent year until July 21, 2027.

Deputy Police Chief James Costa will also receive a 5% increase retroactive to last October, as well as a 5% increase for the next two fiscal years.

“This hopefully resolves our recruitment and retention problems within the department,” Jones told the council.

Police Sgt. Ryan Hubert thanked the board for the increase and recognizing the work that police do.

“We wake up and we are parents, spouses, and family members, and then we are police officers,” he said. “We problem solve; we do multiple roles throughout the community.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Tiverton police, fire get new contracts. Here's what they'll receive